Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE MANIAC, by MARY BRYAN


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE MANIAC, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: My own maria! -- ah my own -- my own!
Last Line: In memory's tenderest thoughts, I have been all thine own!
Subject(s): Despair; Insanity; Madness; Mental Illness


"My own Maria! -- Ah my own -- my own!"
Withheld my steps in such entreating tone,
I turned -- so meek a form I could not fear,
I pressed the extended hand and bathed it with a tear. --
I stood as I could never leave that place,
Yet would have spoken, would have turned away: --
"My own Maria!" -- gazing on my face,
As one long lost to him, did that lorn maniac say.
I could not speak -- so lovely was the joy
The maniac showed, 'twere cruel to destroy;
And I had seen him look so lost in woe,
That if I were not his -- I could not tell him so.
"My own Maria!" -- with such tender grace,
Repeated oft -- that now the maniac grew
Dear and more dear; till urged to leave the place,
I could not speak -- I could not look adieu --
Lest I had seen him in his wild despair,
And hastened to that prisoned maniac's cell,
And left the world to dwell for ever there --
Few in that sordid world I loved so well:
And often since that hour, thou poor unknown,
In memory's tenderest thoughts, I have been all thine own!





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